Palenque-DAY SEVEN

15 Sept. 1842: Speculation that Palenque is a Nephite city

Mr. Stephens' great developments of antiquities are made bare to the eyes of all the people by reading the history of the Nephites in the Book of Mormon. They lived about the narrow neck of land, which now embraces Central America, with all the cities that can be found. Read the destruction of cities at the crucifixion of Christ...Let us turn our subject, however, to the Book of Mormon, where these wonderful ruins of Palenque are among the mighty works of the Nephites:—and the mystery is solved...Mr. Stephens' great developments of antiquities are made bare to the eyes of all the people by reading the history of the Nephites in the Book of Mormon. They lived about the narrow neck of land, which now embraces Central America, with all the cities that can be found.  Statement made by Joseph Smith**

Vast, Mysterious and Enchanting
 the ruins of Palenque are considered to be the most beautiful of the
Mayan Civilizations
 and one of the loveliest archaeological sites in the world.
 Its geographic setting is splendid beyond words. 

Nestled amidst steep and thickly forested hills,
the ruins are frequently shrouded in a thick mist.

from the temple summits there are stupendous views
over an immense coastal plain

        Hidden deep in the jungle, the ruin's existence was unknown

                                             until 1773.  

     Even then,Palenque was rediscovered and lost several times

                                             until 1841. 



piercing the dark green forests, soar great
 pyramids, towers and sprawling temple complexes. 

Palenque began as a farming hamlet, perhaps some time around 300 BC, that is, during the so-call Formative Period (2500 BC-300 AD)  Over the Early Classic Period (300 -600 AD) the village grew, and in the Late Classic (600-900 AD) became the city which ruled much of what is now the states of Chiapas and Tabasco.  However the site was long abandoned when the Spanish arrived in Chiapas



Palenque's written history begins in March 10, 431 when
K'ukB'alam (Quetzal-Jaguar) ascended to the throne. 



Two centuries later the great Palenque ruler K'inich KanB'alam II
traced his family history then recorded eleven genearations
leading up to himself.  He commissioned artists to tell the story
on hieroglypic plaques decorating the tops of Palenque's major temples.
This structure contains some of those plaques

In A.D. 603, K'inich Janaab' Pakal I, better known as "Pakal the Great", was born, and he ascended the throne twelve years later. His greatest monument was the Temple of the Inscriptions, designed as his tomb. The massive stone lid covering his body was carved with a relief showing Pakal descending into the mouth of the Underworld. In 683A.D. at the age of 80, his oldest son, K’inich Kan B’alam II, then succeeded Pakal to the throne.

Temple of Inscriptions
received its name from the 3 hieroglyphic plaques found
inside and is the only temple built specifically as a tomb

a slippery, dimly lit, tilted stairway leads
you down to Lord Pakal's tomb.

this is his vaulted tomb chamber
A sarcophagus lid , Pakal's bones, jewelry
and jade funeral mask have been removed
to a museum in Mexico City



Temple of the Cross
(far background)

 

Temple de la Calavera
also known as
"Temple of the Skull"
"Temple of the Dying Moon"

 


 The Temple of the Sun, under reconstruction, was built by
 Pakal's son, Chan-Bahlum.   His plaster mask was discovered here

 

Bickmore's in Awe over their surroundings

All steps are very steep
We didn't lack for exercise this day


The Palace at Palenque is a complex building, constructed at different times, divided into four main courtyards,  that give shape to a rambling administrative and residential block. The site was discovered 1784. Explorers could see a square tower dominating the rectangular compound formed by several buildings, then completely overgrown by a thick jungle... They soon realized the building was filled with art, stuccoed reliefs with large human figures, a whole court filled with tunnels with beautiful light filtering from the outside, built for Mayan royalty , are all part of this wonderful architectural compound that transports you back into the time when this place was alive and important political decisions were made at this very place!
 

                                        The Palace (El Palacio)





The Palace  is an interesting and intricate maze



leading into corridors, rooms and courtyards

with lots of interesting knocks and crannies

Rob picked us out a Condo
with a fireplace

 

but I decided on this little Villa
on the outskirts of  the City

 

so we could be near the ball court
their are 17 ball courts in El Tajin
I wonder how many are yet to be discovered here?

In its period of cultural florescence
Palenque was even more beautiful,
for then its limestone buildings were
coated with white plaster and
painted in a rainbow of pastel hues.



For the time these people lived GOOD

The Mayan rulers of various city states justified their rule on the basis of heritage, and to them genealogy was very important; indeed, some scholars believe that some of the Mayan genealogies may be amongst the oldest in the world, with continuous lineages dating from today all the way back to perhaps 1000 BC.  The interpretation of Palenque's inscriptions and other archaeological information has provided names of its rulers and other leading figures.  Moreover, even birth dates, marriages, and the start and finish of armed conquests can be dated.

A close up look at one of the plaques

 

Notice the stucco reliefs decorating both sides of the doors.
The four reliefs inside this structure are of king like figures
wearing headdresses standing on monster masks



Over time so much has been lost.
Even the Mayan name of the city was lost,
and the ruins received their current name from the
nearby village of Santo Domingo de Palenque

 

While the ruins have received some of the most extensive excavation
and reconstruction efforts of any of the Mayan only 34 structures
have been opened of an estimated 500 that are scattered around the area. 














It is certain that important events took place in this Mayan Palace, celebrations of political and commercial alliances with other kingdoms. It was the place where bureaucracy and the interaction of the main nobles and others of  lesser rank took place. Offerings and tributes as well as prisoners were presented. The Palace was a place of entertainment and music and dance performances, as well as of sacrifices, negotiations of important or strategic marriages and ritual practises.. 

A sacrifice is about to take place



Their is an eerie mystery here. it is intoxicating and surreal.
You can feel the power of your surroundings

We stand in wonder, awe and amazement as how this
civilization relates to our Book Of Mormon Nephite friends 

As one wanders through the ruins
or gazes from atop the tall buildings,
 small hills are seen everywhere about the site. 

These are not hills, however,
but structures long overgrown with jungle.



In June of 1994 this tomb was discovered.  It contained a
richly dressed skeleton of a man in his 40's.  The sarcophagus
also contained the remains of two females, one adult and one child

 

What other treasures are waiting to be uncovered?
And the greatest question??
Will we be able to revisit PALENQUE in our lifetime!!



We're not quite ready to say good-bye
but it is time for us to go.  Thanks for another
marvelous opportunity

For each of you who are reading this post, I say: "If there is but one Mayan site you visit in your lifetime
make it PALENQUE............."

**         

Page 926 of  the Times and Seasons states: "The Times and Seasons, Is edited, printed and published about the first fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, by JOSEPH SMITH."
Although Joseph Smith is listed as the editor at this time, opinions vary on whether it may have actually been either John Taylor or Wilford Woodruff who wrote this unsigned article.  John Taylor later became the editor of Times and Seasons. Regardless of whether it was Joseph Smith, Wilford Woodruff, or John Taylor who wrote this article, its publication occurred prior to the death of Joseph Smith. The subject being discussed is a very popular book by John L. Stephens, Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan, which Joseph Smith read and enjoyed.